Monday, April 07, 2008

The Weekend

MisunderstandingsIt was really a very nice weekend with the exception of the wind. Toby and I went to WF on Friday to replace some tools needed to work on the tractor, which meant a trip to Harbor Freight - yeha! Since we needed to make a trip to the big city, we took our old lawn mower to Mom, ran some errands, and then went to Olive Garden to eat. The day was slightly ruined by a misunderstanding whether we were going or not going to Starbucks (I'll save that for some other post). Jesse called while we were in WF to say that she would buy plants for the garden. She consulted with her father on what he thought she should buy for the garden. On Saturday morning, we planted 16 tomato plants, 8 pepper plants, 6 squash hills, and some onions. We will have to plow up more garden area for the green beans, black-eyed peas, and okra. I think there might have been another misunderstanding about what to buy for the garden. Get out the tractor!

Jesse also planted a small herb garden and bought several photinia shrubs which she called by some other odd name which probably made the people at the nursery laugh. Toby and I continued to work all day, but Jesse left around noon to go to Norman with her friend, Kat. They did some shopping and went to a Renaissance Festival. Apparently there were camel and elephant rides at this festival along with the pretty odd characters that attend those festivals. She and Kat rode the camels. Look for photos on her blog at some point. Later, she asked her dad if he would buy her a camel. Personally, I have always wanted an elephant. He said no to both.

Easter SpeechMy uncle sent me an email with an Easter Speech given at Ft. Benning by Ret. Lt. Gen. Hal Moore. I started to post the whole speech, but it is rather long. Let me know if anyone would like a copy of the speech or if you think I should just post it. It is, of course, very moving. It reminded me of what a wonderful man Gen. Moore is and what a hero he is.

I was also reminded of his book and movie"We Were Soldiers" and of the first time we met Gen. Moore. I have posted this before, but I will say it again. After seeing the movie back in 2002, Jesse told me that she was "in love with Hal Moore" - not Mel Gibson, but Hal Moore. I understood perfectly. Who could not love a man who was so great with his wife, his children, and his men? Who could not love the man in the movie who was brave, caring, and a real leader? Then we met Hal Moore in person at the Ia Drang Veteran's reunion in DC. Jesse had her picture made with him, and we told him about her "being in love with him." His wife, Julie, got a real kick out of that. Then later about 9 PM that same evening, we shared an elevator with him. He told us that he was going to buy his wife a bottle of wine because "she likes a glass of wine before bed each night." As he got off the elevator, he turned to us and said, "Take care of my girl (meaning Jesse)." Jesse looked at me and said, "Now I know I'm in love with Hal Moore."

At the time, it seemed humorous to me and maybe enchanting that Jesse would say such a thing. Now, I see it a little differently. As Jesse meets young men, she measures them by a pretty high standard. I am sure she is looking for someone like her father who is a godly man, a wise man, someone who is fun and adventurous. She is looking for a man is not ashamed to love his wife, his children ,and the people around him - a man who will take care of those he loves. She wants a leader who is not afraid to say what he thinks, and will stand up for what he believes and loves. She wants a man who also holds up a high standard. She is looking for a "Hal Moore."

Maybe I will have tomatoes out my nose and squash out my ears for saying that.

You most definitely will have tomatoes out yer nose, what with 16 plants!

Good on Jesse and her standards, and here's hoping those standards hold. Love is SUCH a strange thing, though. I think we all know a couple where one's first thought is "How did THAT happen?" The unfortunate thing about love is we don't choose it, it chooses us.

I want an elephant, too. My dad loved to tell us the story about how an elephant escaped from the circus and went on a rampage in our home town. This was long before I was born. He even showed me the spot where they shot and killed it.

I wish Jesse all the best her search. Godly men are few and far between. I'm still waiting for a Hal Moore of my own.

Hello - you don't know me at all, but I noticed we both commented on some of the same Milblogs and so I wandered on over here . . . I don't know anything at all about Jesse (age, etc) but I have to say that you (and her for that matter) are RIGHT on about that search for her own personal Hal Moore. I'm on that same path as well, but these days it is not so easy! Anyways . . . just wanted to give a shout out of encouragement to ya'll and wish you and your family a wonderful week!

mezzo, Welcome to my blog. I have seen you around (noticed the fun painting) on some of the milblogs I frequent. You should meet Jesse since you are on the same path. She is close to your age. Her blog is www.skybag.blogspot.com

I may have to come visit Lou!Nothing better than fresh tomatoes on the vine... garden fresh veggies..YUM! I have a "brown" thumb... after many feeble attempts at gardening and trying to keep houseplants alive, I still have the yearning to dig up the earth in the spring. Instead, I dig up worms and just go fishing!

Fire Fox, you can dig up some worms too. We have a pond with some good fishin'.

One thing I love about our church is all the gardeners. Often, when you walk in the door, a big basket of squash or tomatoes or whatever will be setting there for you to pick through - People sharing their treasures.